5A San Tan

Casteel won 29 matches last season and reached the quarterfinals before bowing out to eventual 5A state champion Horizon. The Colts were hit hard by graduation but will look to senior outside hitter Jadyn Orava and a host of underclassmen to lead Casteel back to the 5A playoffs.

Orava led the team with an average of 10 kills per game. Junior DyBorrah Johnson saw extensive action, as did sophomores Ava Kretschman and Sahara Griggs.

Higley coach Tyler Kraemer is excited about the 2023 season and getting into the 5A playoffs. “We should have a successful year, and I think the key for us is learning how to play together,” Kraemer said.

Top players are sophomore outside hitter Lucy Schmidt, senior middle blocker Avery Garrett and senior outside hitter Tanner Robinson.

Williams Field Finished 7-3 in the region last season with a host of underclassmen and advanced to the round of 16 of the 5A playoffs and are set to make another postseason run. “I like what I see with this team,” coach Brian Hiapo said.

The Black Hawks will look to senior Micah Gardner and junior Kennedie Amarillas as top strikers. Sophomore middle hitter Tatum Clay saw plenty of action as a freshman and led the team in blocks. At 6-1 and three seasons remaining, look for Clay to become an outstanding player.

Campo Verde finished 11-17 in 2022 but won a play-in game to advance to the 5A round of 16 playoffs. Millennium ended the Coyotes season, but Campo Verde looks to have a say in the 5A Metro Tegion, as an early season victory over Williams Field has already proved. Key players for the 2023 campaign will be junior defensive specialist Allison Pivonka and sophomore outside hitter Morgan Meyer.

Mountain Pointe fought through an 8-24 season with a solid core of underclassmen that should see improvement in 2023. Look for seniors Alivia Proctor, Zariah Brown and Binah Cole to lead the way.

5A Metro

McClintock coach Jacob Laikona looks forward to making a run to the playoffs in 2023.

“Our goal is to be a playoff team in 5A,” Laikona said after seeing his Chargers fall in a play-in match last season. McClintock ran the tables in the Metro Region last season (12-0) and will again be the team to beat in the region. Laikona will lean on senior Rachel Reddie, Simone Haptonstall and Lauren Swanson to claim another region crown and hopefully more.

5A Northeast Valley

Horizon looks to continue its 5A dominance as the two time defending state champions. Coach McKenna Skaggs—a Horizon alumnus—has the momentum and firepower to maintain the elite status that long time coach Valorie McKenzie created.

“We’re really excited about this new season and trying to pull of that three-peat,” Skaggs said of her 2023 outlook. Outside hitter Teraya Sigler Horizon's Teraya Sigler (Steven Davis/maxpreps)was a force as a sophomore, leading the Huskies in kills, digs and hitting percentage. Most impressive was her performance in the state championship match, recording 26 kills. At 6-3 she is just as disruptive defensively and could end up as an all-time great. Sophomores Sienna Markovich and Cameryn Fischer are emerging early this season, while senior Avery Ashcraft is leading the 3-0 Huskies in digs and assists.

Notre Dame Prep moved up to 5A last season and didn’t miss a beat after capturing the 4A state title in 2021. Evan Hendrix dominated as a junior, averaging five digs per set and 557 for the season, while leading Notre Dame to the 5A semifinals. To make another run and challenge Horizon, Notre Dame will need big seasons from middle hitters Isabella Cardello and Mya Clay.

4A East Sky

ALA Gilbert North: The Eagles won 35 matches last season and swept the region before their season ended in the quarterfinal round of the state playoffs. Graduation took a toll and Matthew Pritulsky steps in as head coach.

That won’t stop this team from competing for another region title and playoff run.

“We should be right there in the top three of our region and we’ve got some talent this year,” Pritulsky says of his 2023 outlook. Seniors Addison Brinkerhoff, Tana Howard and Jessee Brewer bring experience and skill to the table for the Eagles. Howard has committed to Idaho St. and Brinkerhoff is headed to University of Arizona to play sand volleyball.

Arizona College Prep: The Knights reached the round of 16 in last year’s 4A state playoffs, and coach Mike Shannon will have an experienced group of seniors to lead the way, starting with middle hitter Kendall Story, outside hitters Ella Kraver, Lauren Blacker, and setter Ella Pallagi. Sophomore Abby Swogger has helped Arizona Prep to a 7-4 start, which includes matches against 6A powers Hamilton and Perry in the House of Payne Invitational.

“We hope we can grow from playing against teams like that,” Shannon says of the early season competition.

“We like to think we’ve gotten a little better each year.”

ALA Queen Creek: The Patriots are anxious to improve on last season’s 22-16 record, but they’ll have to do so with a limited number of returning contributors.

“We lost a lot of seniors, but we think we can be a top 10 team in 4A,” says coach Alan Ramage.

“We’ll have a lot of young players that will need to step up for us.”

Sophomore Sara Bowcutt was a major contributor as a freshman, and Ramage will look to her for leadership. Bowcutt led the team in total kills (389) and digs (226). ALA Queen Creek should get a boost from senior Peyton Devlin, who transferred from Thatcher in the off-season. Sophomores Paizly Farabee and Kamrynn Phillips have shown promise early in the season.

Eastmark: Hopes are high at Eastmark after a 16-9 campaign in the school’s third year of existence. The Firebirds reached the round of 16 in the 4A state tournament and coach Daniel Arrington looks to build on the momentum. “We are still young with a ton of growth to be had, but I think this could be one of our best teams,” he said.

Sophomores Brooke Harwood and Bella Jackson were two of the most productive players as freshmen. At 6-3, Harwood led Eastmark in total kills and was second in blocks. Jackson led the team in serving aces and assists. Junior Kayla Wheaton contributed in all areas, and Arrington expects big things from another junior, Camryn Hunter.

4A Desert Sky

Arcadia won 26 matches and nearly brought home the 4A state championship before falling to Estrella Foothills in four sets. The good news for Arcadia is that Zoe Leonard returns for one more season after leading the Titans in kills (303) and blocks (75). Fellow senior Taylor Soule should also pick up the offensive load for Arcadia, which also swept the Desert Sky Region with a 10-0 record. Juniors Katie Musselman and Lane Sheedy have already made an impact defensively during the Titans 3-0 start.

Arcadia's Zoe Leonard (Mark Jones/maxpreps)

Saguaro: The Sabercats finished 15-10 but saw their season end in a 4A play-in game for the state tournament. If Saguaro is to close in on Arcadia, it’ll rely heavily on senior Ava Cotton. Junior Lexi Mallonee-King has played well in Saguaro’s first two matches.

“I’m really hoping we can make a deep playoff run,” coach Wilson admits.

“We’ve really been working hard to become a cohesive unit.”

Players to Watch

Mesquite: OH Maggie Pitts, S Maddie Purdy, MB Meredith Allen.

Marcos de Niza: OH McKenna Baker, Nailani Joe (freshman), DS Grace Vullo.

Seton Catholic: OH Rylan Keane (freshman), OH Mikayla Bell, DS Emily Yehle.

3A Central

Gilbert Christian: 2023 is a youth movement for first year coach Alyssa Misuraca. The Knights reached the 3A quarterfinals last season. Another successful season will require Misuraca to develop a young team, which is off to a 4-2 start.

“I expect to be competitive with every team in our region,” Misuraca says. “We have a really strong group of players, albeit young, but I think we’re capable of getting past the quarterfinals.”

Freshmen outside hitters Lillie Duitsman and Sienna Cathey are already making a huge impact for Gilbert Christian. Junior Libero Michelle Lopez and senior Rio Taylor will be looked upon for veteran leadership.

Valley Christian: The Trojans won 25 matches last season and cruised through the South Central Region undefeated before advancing to the state quarterfinals. With six returning starters, coach Tyler Trathen expects another great season.

“Our goal is to reach the finals this season,” Trathen said.

“Our goal is to build team chemistry as we are a young team with a lot of talent.”

Trathen expects big things from senior libero Avery Schmidt along with juniors Kelsey Brooks and Madi Brown McAlpine.

Sophomore Claire Gilbert has stepped up early in the season. Valley Christian will also face larger schools in the Westwood Tournament of Champions, as well as teams from all over the country in the SoCal Invitational.

“I feel like the great competition will only help our team develop.”

3A North Central

Fountain Hills: Coach Olivia Long has a veteran squad and plenty of optimism, not to mention a 5-0 start to the 2023 season.

“This is shaping up to be one of our best seasons in a few years,” claims Long.

“We’re hoping our experience will help us make a push for the state playoffs and a top two finish in our region.”

Top returning players include seniors Sophia Wickland and Bella Garman along with juniors Kitrick Garman, Jocelyn Bloedel and Zoe Kohoutek

Scottsdale Christian Academy: Coming off a 20 win season and a trip to the quarterfinals, the Eagles should make a run at a region title. Top returning players include Reece Gibson, Sophia Gilbert, Selah Wadsworth, and Sydney Woelver.

Scottsdale Christian's Reece Gibson (Steven Davis/maxpreps)

2A Valley Division

San Tan Charter: First year coach Timothy Porter is expecting his best players to be underclassmen this season—including seven freshmen and three sophomores, but confidence and expectations are high.

“We have a young and hungry team,” Porter explains of his 2023 squad.

“We are still expecting big things this season and we are going to be a team to beat. I’m really excited for this season and the future.”

Outside hitter Bri Gibson is a senior that will need to provide leadership for such a young team to develop. Freshmen Ella Shoap and Chloe Kovach have big expectations. Sophomore Peyton Schwinden is tied with Bri Gibson for total kills foo far this season. Juniors Isabella Ortiz and Sarah Dippre should also play vital roles for the roadrunners.

San Tan Charter's Bri Gibson (Steven Davis/maxpreps)

Gilbert Classical Academy: Coming off a 20 win season, top players to watch are senior outside hitter Madeleine Matthews, junior Maria Felicia Cristobal and Serina Garcia. The Spartans are off to a 4-0 start.

2A South

Chandler Prep Academy made a run to the quarterfinals last season, and coach Anthony Jones is expecting another run in the state playoffs.

“We’re excited for this season and the chance to play some very tough non-region opponents,” Jones said.

Libero Juliet Mason and setter Olivia Rumsberg earned all-conference honors last season, and junior Abbie Unruh is expected to lead the offensive attack. Chandler Prep hosted a large tournament last weekend, and the Titans are already off to a 7-3 start. Senior Nadine Spencer-Walters has emerged as another reliable contributor. Jones expects another battle for the region title with Horizon Honors,

Horizon Honors won 28 matches and tied for the region title with Chandler Prep, going 9-1. The Eagles lost the core of last season’s team to graduation, and sophomore Kennedy Harbertson might be Horizon Honors best player this season.

Other Players to Watch

Tempe Prep: Camille Snyder, Emily Youngs, Kayetlynn Jaime.

Benjamin Franklin: Madison Sanchez, Chloe Wright, Sarah Householder.

The 3A and 2A conference play-in tournaments begin Oct. 31, while the state tournaments are scheduled to begin Nov. 4.

The 1A state bracket gets underway Oct. 31 as well.